Jeanie Buss took over the Los Angeles Lakers in 2013 with the aim to honor her father’s legacy. Following the surprising trade of Luka Doncic to the Lakers, she reflected on her father’s pride in such moves.

“He’d be very proud,” Buss commented while promoting Running Point, a Netflix comedy based on her experiences with the Lakers.

In approving the trade for Doncic, Buss thought of her father who was renowned for his strategic mind. She expressed:

“My dad was a great poker player and always said you had to wait for the right cards. Once you have them, go from zero to 100 without fear.”

She noted the secrecy around the deal, with only a few individuals aware of the plans, emphasizing the importance of not disrupting team chemistry.

Doncic, now a Lakers star, spoke about the emotional challenges of facing the Mavericks post-trade but is settling in with his new team. Buss highlighted both the intense excitement of the trade and its timing with the premier of her Netflix show. “Everyone thinks this trade was planned for promotion; it was purely a coincidence,” she concluded.